Machine for handling and transporting material



Dec. 116, 1952 LE GRAND H. LULL 2,621,812

MACHINE FOR HANDLING AND TRANSPORTING MATERIAL Filed Jan. 21, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet l n: M) 1 I QMJQLV Dec. 316, 1952 LE GRAND H. LULL 2,621,812

MACHINE FOR HANDLING AND TRANSPORTING MATERIAL Filed Jan. 21, 1950 I 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 1952 LEYGRAND H. LULL. 2,

MACHINE FOR HANDLING AND TRANSPORTING MATERIAL Filed Jan. 21, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 16, 1952 LE GRAND H. LULL. 2,621,812

MACHINE FOR HANDLING AND TRANSPORTING MATERIAL Filed Jan. 21, 1950 v Sheets-Sheet 4 CMaJM/M W Dec. 16, 1952 LE GRAND H. LULL 2,621,812

MACHINE FOR HANDLING AND TRANSPORTING MATERIAL Filed Jan. 21, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet s 3mm 45 film/v0 (Z 4044 m wr u Dec, 16, E952 LE GRAND H. LULL 2,621,312

MACHINE FOR HANDLING AND TRANSPORTING MATERIAL Filed Jan. 21, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 a I I g; l

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MACHINE FOR HANDLING AND TRANSPORTING MATERIAL Filed Jan. 21, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Patented Dec. 16, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR HANDLING AND TRANS- PORTING MATERIAL 20 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to improvements in vehicular machines for handling and transporting materials and more particularly to certain improvements over the machine disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 56,071 for Load Handling and Transporting Machine which was filed October 23, 1948.

The machine of this and my previous invention is particularly adapted to the loading, transporting, and stacking of heavy and lengthy materials such as timber, steels, and the like and is so constructed that bulky loads of materials of this general nature may be conveniently manipulated and transported as is necessary in various industrial and building operations. The only analogous equipment for this general purpose to my knowledge is the commonly termed straddle loaders which comprise elevated wheel borne frames adapted to travel lengthwise over a stack of lumber or the like and with loading elements which may be thrust inwardly under the stack so that it may be elevated and moved from place to place. Such loaders are, however, limited in their application due to the very nature of their construction and furthermore require that all of the material handled be arranged upon pallets as is well known to those skilled in the art.

The primary object of my invention therefore is to provide a machine by which material may be lifted from a stack and deposited lengthwise on the machine for transport, and may then be elevated and moved out to the side of the machine for disposal either on the ground or racking in elevated racks or locations, if the work so requires. The machine is thus universally applicable to the handling of all lengthy materials of the type which are at present so difiicult to handle, and experience with commercial embodiments of the invention has well demonstrated this extreme and practical utility.

The present invention has as a further object the provision of an improved vehicular frame for the loader, with rear wheel drive and hydraulic booster steering and with other features all of which contribute to the maneuverability or roadability of the machine, and further provides a frame structure which, while being simple and comparatively inexpensive, is exceedingly durable and sturdy in construction. In order to accommodate the loader mechanism itself, and to permit it to be thrust out to the side of the machine for loading and unloading purposes, it is necessary that the frame have an opening at one side which separates front and rear supports upon which the material rests while being transported,

Due to the weight and the nature of the material handled by the loader, it follows that the frame is subject to relatively tremendous twisting forces and in order to unite these front and rear supports in such fashion as to absorb such force, my present invention provides a backbone structure extending from front to rear along one side of the frame and which is made up as a combination of a box type, double tubular, and gusset type frame. This three phase construction of the backbone unit utilizes all of the strength characteristics of the box and tubular frames with internal gusset bracing, and thus I findthat a comparatively small and simple backbone unit itself will successfully withstand all of the strains which are placed upon it. I

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved and simplified loader mounting for a machine of this character and which construction is also exceedingly strong in order to withstand the strains placed upon the lifting elements as the heavy loads are manipulated thereby. For the successful operation of my machine it is necessary that the loader itself be movable not only in upright planes but also transversely with respect to the machine as a whole in order to pick up or deposit loads alongside the machine. It is further desirable that the loader be tiltable in an upright transverse plane in order to insure that timbers and the like upon the loading forks will not tumble off as they are raised and lowered. All three of such distinct motions of the loader are carried out hydraulically and I regard the details of the construction of the various supporting and operating parts as will be disclosed herein to be important features of my invention.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide general structural improvements over the machine of my prior application which experience has proven to be of substantial value and to contribute materially to the operation of the machine as a whole. Among such improvements I provide an improved load carrier construction which is adapted not only to the use of the common forks for handling timbers and the like but also may be used with equal facility 1 with crane arms where the nature of the work being done indicates the advisablity of-the use of slings for handling the material, and with a prong for carrying heavy cable and wire spools as will be pointed out.

These and other more detailed and specific objects will be disclosed in the course of the 3 following specification reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a loader constructed in accordance with my present invention and illustrating the loader mechanism itself as lowered to the ground for picking up or depositing material at the side of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a rear end view of the loader showing the same in the operation of lifting a load from a railroad car and with crane arms and slings substituted for the forks shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical and transverse sectional view through the machine taken along the plane indicated by the line 33 in Fig. 1 but with certain parts of the loader mechanism itself omitted,

Figs. 4. and 5 are enlarged vertical cross sections substantially along the line 44 in Fig. 1 and showing successive positions of the jacks by which the frame is supported when loading and unloading material.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view along the line 6-6 in Fig. 3 and showing the tilting mechanism for the loader per se.

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross sectional view through one side of the forward portion of the machine taken substantially along the line 'l1 in Fig. 8 and illustrating the front wheel suspension in some detail.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation partially in longitudinal and vertical section and showing the basic frame structure of the machine.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section along the line 99 in Fig. 8 and showing particularly the construction of the backbone portion of the frame.

Fig. 10 is a plan View of the basic frame structure shown in Fig. 8' with the top or platform plates removed and also in this case showing the engine and rear wheel drive mechanism.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail section through the tilt pivot for the loader taken substantially along the line l|-II in Fig. 3.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail horizontal section along the line l2l2 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view along the line l3--l3 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 14 is a side elevation on a reduced scale illustrating the use of the machine for laying cable and the like.

Referring now more particularly and by reference characters to the drawing, the improved loading machine of my present invention comprises a main vehicular and self-propelled frame designated generally at A characterized by the fact that it has front and rear longitudinally spaced supports B and C in the space between which is located a loading or elevating mechanism indicated generally at D. The loader per se forming the main element of the mechanism D is fundamentally the same as that disclosed and claimed in my Patent No. 2,394,458 issued February 6, 1946, to which attention is invited for complete details as to construction.

The frame A will be first described and for such description attention is particularly directed to Figs. 1, '7, 8, 9, and 10. It will first of all be understood that since the supports B and C are spaced apart a considerable distance fore and aft in order to accommodate the loading mechanism D and further that the frame must necessarily be open completely at one side to provide for the lateral extension of the loader, a number of problems are involved in the construction of the frame to compensate for the comparatively heavy stresses and twisting for es which are placed upon it in operation. The supports B and C are essentially rectangular and box-like in formation and include upper rectangular frames l9 and l l respectively, forming part of which are transversely extending heavy cross channels indicated at l2 and l3 for the front support and E4 and 15 for the rear support. These channels 12 through [5 are rigidl united along the left hand side of the frame as a whole by a lower heavy tubular element l6 forming part of a backbone unit indicated generally at H. This lower tube i6 thus extends from the front of the machine as a whole lengthwise back to the rearmost channel l5 as best shown in Figs. 8 and 10 but it will be noted that the frame II for the rear support C further has a rearward extension forming space for the accommodation of an internal combustion engine [3 for driving the vehicle as will be presently described. Heavy triangular gusset plates [9 join this lower tube Hi to the channels [3 and I4 and the backbone structure is completed by an upper, shorter tube extending parallel with the lower tube and rigidly joined thereto by side plates 2| and 22. In the space formed within this combination of tubular and box type frame heavy gusset plates 23 are welded at spaced locations and it will thus be apparent that the backbone structure as a Whole combines the structural and strengthening characteristics of tubing and box-type formations with internal gusset bracing so as to completely counteract any tendency towards twisting as between the front and rear supports B and C. These front and rear supports are also joined along the same side of the machine by a side rail 24 and as best shown in Fig. 1 of the group of views here under consideration the supports are completed by depending side sheets indicated throughout at 25. Front and rear sheeting is also employed as indicated at 26 in order to complete the enclosure of elements arranged beneath the supports, while the channels [3 and M which define the front and rear extremities of the space between the supports are provided with depending rectangular cross panels 21 and 28, respectively, of heavy sheet material and bolted in place as indicated at 29.

This frame structure is supported upon front and rear wheels indicated at 30 and 3!, respectively, and the front wheels are steerably mounted by means of the usual spindles 32 upon a front axle 33 extending crosswise beneath the support B. This axle is bolted near its ends, as indicated at 34, to a wishbone unit 35 having front and rear pivots indicated at 36 and 31. The front pivot 36 is rockably mounted by means of a pin 33 upon a transversely extending front bumper structure 39 while the rear pivot 31 is similarly mounted by a pin 49 upon a V-shaped hanger bracket 4!, the upper ends of which are secured to a member 42 extending transversely across the underside of the front support frame I D. This mounting is obviously such as to permit opposite up and down movements of the respective front wheels 30 about the axes of the pins 38 and as irregularities in the road surface are encountered, and thus provides in conjunction with the rear wheel 3|, a three point type of suspension for the machine as a whole. Up and down movements of the front wheels 30 are yieldably resisted by a spring structure now to be described. Upon the right hand side of the machine at which the frame is open for the accommodation of the loading mechanism D a heavy rectractile coil spring 43 is attached by clips 44 and 45 to the wishbone unit 35 and upper end of the hanger unit 4|, respectively, as best shown in Fig. 7. This spring thus has a tendency to pull the frame down at this side and the spring suspension is completed by the provision at the opposite side of a very heavy expansion coil spring 46, the lower end of which is braced against a flange 41 formed upon the inner sleeve 48 of a telescoping fitting indicated generally at 49. Said sleeve is pivotally attached at 50 to the wishbone unit 35 and an outer sleeve is pivotally attached at 52 to the upper end of the hanger 4 l The spring 46 extends upwardly into the sleeve 5| and is braced against the closed end 53 thereof and this spring thus also has a tendency to rock the frame in the same direction. This motion of the frame is limited by the contact of a stop bracket 54 secured upon the pivot bracket 4| which may contact a pad 55 upon the cross member 56 which joins the rearwardly diverging arms 51 of the wishbone unit. Rods, one of which is shown at 58 in Fig. '7, are secured at lower ends 59 beneath the flange 4'! and extend slidably upward through bearings 59 upon the sleeve 5!.

The bracing of this front wheel support structure is completed by brace bars 62 extendin upwardly from the hanger unit 41 and secured to the underside of the support and by diagonal braces 63 extending horizontally beneath the support and connecting the front and rear cross channels l2 and I3 thereof. Also as shown in Fig. I provide longitudinal channels 64 which join the channels l2 and i3 and serve as anchor points for the brace bars 62.

It will, of course, be understood that this entire spring suspension has a tendency to pull the right hand side of the frame downward but this is desired for the reason that by far the greater part of the weight falls upon the left hand side of the machine at all times and especially when material is being picked up or unloaded alongside the machine. At such time, however, lateral stability is provided by the use of support jacks as will be presently described and as has been pointed out in my previous application hereinbefore identified.

The rear wheels 5! are arranged at the extremities of a heavy drive axle of conventional construction and indicated generally at 55. This axle is secured (as shown at 66 in Fig. 8) to heavy depending brackets 61 beneath the rear support C and drive connection to the wheels is made from the engine l8 through a transmission unit 68 appearing in Fig. 10. The engine is positioned in the frame with its crankshaft extending transversely and in order then to connect the transmission unit 58 to the axle I employ right angle drive mechanism indicated generally at 89 having a universal joint connection 10 to the drive shaft ll into the differential formin part of the axle. The radiator 12 for the engine is located at the rear right hand side of the machine and a screened opening (not here shown) is provided in the sheeting at this side to admit cooling air to the radiator. The fuel tank for the engine is indicated at E2 and is located between the channels l4 and I5 and between brace channels 74 which along with diagonal braces complete the bracing for the rear support C in a fashion similar to that of the front suport B. Also positioned beneath this rear support C is a tank 76 which supplies fluid for operation of the loader and all other hydraulically operated elements of the machine. Both front and rear supports B and C are covered by heavy platform plates 71 6 and 18 respectively and the rear plate 18 will be, of course, provided with suitably located hatches in order to permit access to the tanks 13 and 16 for filling.

Arranged immediately forward of the front end of the backbone unit I! and along the left hand side of the front support B is an operators station or cockpit indicated at 19 wherein is located a seat 80 placing the operator convenient to the various controls presently to be described. This location for the operator also places him in an elevated position from which he can best observe the road ahead of the machine as well as the operation of the loading mechanism D as will be understood. At the rear of the backbone unit'l'l there is formed a corresponding enclosure indicated at 8| which provides space for a spare wheel 82 and any other equipment which it may be desired to carry. As will be noted in Fig. 1, the operators station 19 and rear housing or enclosure 8| is shaped to give a streamlined and attractive appearance to the vehicle as a whole, and also as will be noted in the various drawings the usual lights and turn indicato equipment is provided as required for highway operation of the machine.

At the operators station 19 there is provided a steering wheel 33 having connection to a steerin rod 34 located beneath the front support B as shown in Fig. 10. This steering rod is connected at 85 to a conventional shuttle valve 88 controlling the admission of fluid to a steering motor 88 connected at 89 to one side of the wishbone unit 55 and at its other end at 90 to one of the steering arms connected to the front wheel spindles 32. The usual radius rod 9| joins the spindles and the operation of the steering wheel will thus cause the valve 86 to admit fluid to the steering motor 88 and steer the wheels, according to the direction in which the steering wheel 83 is turned. As will be noted in Fig. 10 an angle 92 pivotally connects one end of the steering motor 88 to the front bearing 36 of the wishbone unit in order to properly hold the steering motor in position under all operating conditions of the front Wheel structure.

The loading mechanism D is positioned between the cross panels 27 and 28 and its primary support comprises a carriage indicated generally at 93 which is U-shaped and has front and rear ends joined by a back bar 94 along the left hand side. These front and rear ends are I-shaped in cross section so as to form both forwardly and rearwardly opening channels and inasmuch as these and other elements are identical at both front and rear of the structure they will be indicated by corresponding reference numerals, the ends of the carriage being designated at 95 throughout the drawing. The carriage is arranged for movement in transverse, horizontal planes by the provision upon the front and rear cross panels 27 and 28 of horizontal rows of support rollers 96 which are journaled upon the respective panels and are shaped to ride in the respective front and rear channels in the carriage ends. In order to move this carriage structure 93 transversely of the machine, I provide a pair of hydraulic rams or fluid motors arranged one above each of the carriage ends 95 and each comprises a cylinder 91 pivotally attached at 98 at the left hand side of the machine to bracket ears 99 secured to the aforesaid side rail 24. The cylinders 91 extend from these points transversely of the machinetoward the right hand side thereof and the plungers I00 associated with the cylinders are pivotally attached by forks I01 to, bracket plates. I02 secured atop. the. rig-ht hand ends. of the, carriage. It will thus be clearly apparent that the admission of fluid to the respective ends of the cylinders, 91 will operate, to move the plunel. I in opposite directions in order to move the carriage itself either to right or left with re,- spcct to the machine as a whole. In the normal position the, carriage will be moved to. the left so that its back bar 94 stands beneath the side rail 24 whereas in the maximum out-thrust position toward the right the ends 95 of the carriage may project. beyond theright hand side of the machine somewhat, while, the rollers 96, will maintain sufficient engagement with the, carriage to support it in sucha position.

The loader mechanism support further includes front, and rear carrier plates, of heavy sheet material and irregularly shaped, and indicated by the reference numeral I03. These carrier plates are positioned immediately alongside the ends 95 of the carriage 93 and they are provided each with a pair of rollers I04 arranged to travel in the adjacent channels in said carriage ends. Thus, the carrier plates are permitted to travel transversely of the machine both with the carriage itself and independently thereof. For travelling the carrier plates I03, I provide at each end of the structure a sprocket chain I which operates over sprockets I0& and I01 at right and left hand sides of the machine. The sprockets I06 are journaled at I08 (Fig. 3) and these journals are formed in bearing clips I09 slidable in U-shaped brackets IIO depending from the ends 95 of the carriage 93. Threaded draw pins III are fastened to the clips I09 and project through apertured lugs II2 depending from the brackets IIO so that by adjusting lock nuts H3 the journal structures for the sprockets I06 may be adjusted for the purpose of tightening the sprocket chains I05. The opposite sprockets I01 are journaled in brackets II4 depending from the carriage ends beneath the back bar 94 and also extending between these brackets is a tubular shaft member indicated at II5. Each sprocket chain I05 is attached at I I6 to the associated carrier plate I03 and is also fastened as indicated at II1 to angles II8 secured upon the adjacent faces of the cross panels 21 and 28. The arrangement is thus obviously such that the hereinbefore described right and left hand travel of the carriage 03 will cause the sprocket chains to travel in unison around their sprockets I06 and I01 but since the chains are themselves anchored at II1 to the panels 21-28, their connections H6 to the carrier plates I03 will cause a corresponding travel of the carrier plates with reference to the carriage. As a result these carrier plates I03 will move to the right and left hand ends of the carriage as a whole as the same reaches the corresponding limits of its travel with reference to the machine. The limit of this motion of the parts to the right hand side of the machine is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The support for the loading mechanism is completed by swingable end plates II9 tied rigidly together by a heavy torque tube I and the plates II9 are positioned in facing relation to the carrier plates I03 to which they are pivotally attached at their upper ends so that the parts may swing about a horizontal and longitudinal axis with respect to the machine. As best shown in Figs. 3 and 11, the pivots between the respective plates I03 and H9 are formed by collars I2I welded to the plates [03. and forming bearings in which may turn bushings I22 placed through openings I23 and the plates H9. The parts. are held in. such assembly by means of bolts I24 but as will be clearly understood, the actual pivot support does not depend for sheer strength upon the bolts, as would obviously be impractical due to the fact that these pivots carry the entire weight of the load being manipulated by the machine.

The loader per se comprise an inner stationary frame having side channels [25- and an outer movable frame having corresponding channels I26, which frame travels up and down with respect to the inner frame upon rollers I21 projecting from the sides thereof. The sides of the outer frame. also have outwardly opened channels in which operate rollers I28 carried bythe sides I29 of a load carrier frame to which the forks or other devices. for moving the load are actually applied. A vertically operating hydraulic ram, indicated generally at I30, is positioned within this frame-work and operates against a header I 3| joining the outer frame sides I26 to move the same upwardly and downwardly with respect to the inner or stationary frame. This up and down motion is also transmitted to the load carrier sides I29 by cables I32 attached at I33 to a cross member I34 joining said sides. These cables operate overhead pulleys I35 and are secured to the inner stationary frame as clearly pointed out in my prior Patent No. 2,394,458. It is believed that this description of the loader itself is sufficient for present purposes inasmuch as my patent clearly points out all of the details of its construction and operation. The sides I25 of the stationary frame of the loader are secured by heavy brackets I36 to the torque tube I20 so that the loader will travel transversely of the machine along with the carrier plates I03 as has been previously pointed out in detail and this mounting further, of course, permits the loader to swing in a vertical transverse plane about the axes of the pivot connections I24 by which the end plates H9 are suspended.

The loader D is tilted and held in adjusted positions by means of a tilting ram or fluid motor indicated generally at I31 having a cylinder I38 and plunger I39. This ram is positioned lengthwise with respect to the machine as a whole alongside a tie bar I49 which is secured to the lower corner portions of the carrier plates I03. This bar I40 is positioned vertically on edge and secured along its lower edge and also fastened to the plates Il3 is a lower horizontal bar I4I. Bracket plates I42 at the ends of the bar I40 overhang the bar I4! and pivot pins I43 are arranged vertically between these parts to pivotally connect the upper and lower sections of toggle links I44, one at each front and rear end of the assembly. The opposite ends of the toggle links I44 are pivoted at I 45 to toggle links I45 and these links I45 are also pivotally attached at I41 and I48, respectively, to the cylinder I48 and plunger I49 of the tilting ram. The opposite ends of the links I46 are then pivoted between clips I49 by means of pins I50 and these clips are secured to the end plates I I 9 near the lower edges thereof as seen in Fig. 3. Normally, the respective toggle links I44 and I46 stand in the buckled position shown in Fig. 6 and it will thus be understood that the admission of fluid to the cylinder I38 to project the plunger I39 will tend to straighten the toggles and thus project the lower ends of the end plates I I9 toward the right (to the left as viewed in Fig. 3), swingingthem about their pivots I2 II 24 and tilting the loader in an upright transverse plane so that its upper end swings toward the left of the machine. Admission of fiuid to the cylinder I38 to retract the plunger I39 will obviously reverse this action and it will, of course, be understood that this tilting ram and toggle mechanism will further hold the loader in any such adjusted position. The minor play between the toggle links I46 and clip I 49 necessary to compensate for this swinging motion may be provided for by loosely fitting the pivot pins I50 and by the flexibility of the toggle links themselves.

As pointed out in my previous application, I provide means at the right hand side of the machine, immediately adjacent the corners of the supports B and C where they are spaced apart to accommodate the loader, for engaging the ground and supporting the machine while a load is raised or lowered. Such means comprises jack structures which are best shown in Figs. 4 and and which will now be described. The jack structures are arranged inside and beneath the respective supports B and C and are mounted upon the forward face of the cross panel 21 and rear face of the panel 28, but since the structures are identical only one will be described in detail and the corresponding parts of each identified by the same reference numerals. Referring then to Figs. 4 and 5, each jack is seen to comprise a support bar I52 which is 'slidably mounted through a rectangular yoke I53 having a pin I54 projecting from one side for pivotal mounting through the cross panel 21, or 28, as the case may be. The yoke I53 is located near the outer right hand corner of the panel and obviously forms both a sliding and pivotal support for the bar I 52 so that it may be thrust outward to the right and swing downward and outward from its normal or transport position of Fig. 4 to its operative position of Fig. 5. A ground plate I55 is pivoted at I56 to the outer end of the support bar in order to engage the .ground as seen in Fig. 5 and the arrangement is such that, as the bar swings inward and upward to its normal position, this ground plate will contact the corner of the cross panel and swing to a position close against the side of the machine as shown in Fig. 4. This is, of course, to prevent-the jack structures from forming any lateral obstruction on the machine when they are in transport or in normal position. Secured to the inner end of the support bar I52 is a pair of guide plates I51 which are spaced apart to ride an arcuate track I58 secured in spaced relation to the adjacent face of the cross panel by means of bolts I59. An actuating link I58 is also pivoted at one end at [6| between the guide plates I51 and at its lower end is pivoted at I62 to the right hand end of a bracket bar I53 secured along the lower edge of the cross panel. This bracket bar also has a pivot support I54 for the cylinder of a hydraulic jack ram I 85 and the plunger I 58 thereof is pivotally pinned at I61 to lugs I58 on the link. Thus it will be understood that the admission of fluid to the ram I65 to project its plunger I66 will rock the link I68 about its pivot I62 swinging the inner end of the support bar I52 upward and outward. The guide plates I51, however, engaging the track I58 will cause the bar to travel downwardly and outwardly, sliding through the yoke 53, so as to bring the ground plate I55 down against the ground some distance outward of the right hand side of the machine as best shown in Fig. 2. It will thus be seen that support will be provided for the weightof the loader immediately at the base thereof in such manner as to overcome any tendency of the machine to cant under the weight of a load suspended from the load carrying device itself. Retraction of the plunger I66 will, of course, swing the jack structure back to its transport position as shown in Fig. 4.

For most work, .the loader will be used with carrying forks indicated generally at I69 having backs I10 apertured at upper ends to swing upon a cross shaft I1I rigidly secured acrossthe sides I29 of the load carrier frame. The cross bar I 34 also forming part of such frame projects at its ends so that the fork backs I10 will bear thereagainst under the weight of a load supported upon theoutwardly projecting tines of the fork, designated at I12. For some work, however, it may be desirable to provide the loader with curved crane arms as indicated at I13 in Fig. 2 and for their accommodation the sides I29 of the load carrier frame is provided with upwardly opening sockets I14 into which the lower ends of the crane arms may be inserted. If desired, the arms also may be provided with ears I15 as shown in Fig. 12 adapted to be bolted at I15a to lugs I16 on the load carrier sides so as to keep the arms from swinging about and to hold them in adjusted horizontal relation. In any event, the crane arms permit the use of slings, shown at I11 in Fig. 2, for carrying a load I18, and also as shown therein the loader is well adapted to loading and unloading heavy timbers ancli steels on railroad cars, one of which appears at 19.

By the substitution of a single out-thrust finger I on the load carrier device the large and very heavy spools such as shown at NH and used for telephone cables and the like may be loaded and unloaded, or transported. Furthermore, the machine is well adapted to the laying of such cables since the spool I 8| may be supported with its lower edge near the ground so that the cable will be payed out or unrolled as the machine travels forwardly.

While the precise details of the hydraulic system as a whole are immaterial to my present invention, it will be noted that the operators station 19 is provided with a series of four control levers, indicated throughout at I82, which separately control the admission of fluid to the loader cylinder or ram I30, and to the rams 91, I31, and IE5 to permit the selective control of the load elevation, the transverse movement of the loader, the tilting adjustment thereof and the position of the support jacks. In addition, the operators station will also have controls for the engine I8 and associated transmission and the hollow construction of the backbone unit I1 provides a convenient location for the front to rear control elements as well as the necessary connecting tubes for the hydraulic system as shown clearly in Fig. 3. In addition, at the left hand side of the machine I provide a housing I83 which extends along the backbone unit I1 flush with the side of the machine to provide a space along the unit I1 for additional controls, as well as to improve the appearance.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my in- 11 vention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A loading machine of the character described, comprising front and rear wheel borne load supports spaced apart to accommodate an elevating mechanism between them, a backbone unit joining the supports at one side of the machine leaving the opposite side open, an elevating mechanism supported between the supports for transverse movement out through the said open side, and the backbone unit being of a combination tubular, box-type and gusset frame construction to resist twisting forces between front and rear supports.

2. A loading machine of the character described, comprising front and rear wheel borne load supports spaced apart to accommodate an elevating mechanism between them, a backbone unit joining the supports at one side of the machine leaving the opposite side open, an elevating mechanism supported between the supports for transverse movement out through the said open side, and the back bone unit including spaced upper and lower and rigidly connected tubes.

3. A loading machine of the character described, comprising front and rear wheel borne load supports spaced apart to accommodate an elevating mechanism between them, a backbone unit joining the supports at one side of the machine leaving the opposite side open, an elevating mechanism supported between the supports for transverse movement out through the said open side, and the backbone unit including longitudinally extending upper and lower tubes, side plates joining the tubes, and internal gusset plates joining the tubes and side plates.

4. A loading machine of the character described, comprising front and rear wheel borne load supports spaced apart to accommodate an elevating mechanism between them, a backbone unit joining the supports at one side of the machine leaving the opposite side open, an elevating mechanism supported between the supports for transverse movement out through the said open side, and the backbone unit comprising a lower tubular member extending between and secured to said supports, and an upper tubular member paralleling the lower member and rigidly secured thereto.

5. In a loading machine of the character described, spaced front and rear load supports, steerable wheels supporting one support and power driven wheels the other, a loading mechanism carried between the supports, means for connecting the supports front to rear at one side only and for resisting twisting and other stresses, said means consisting of upper and lower heavy tubular members secured to the supports and spanning the space therebetween, side plates secured to the tubular members, and forwardly and rearwardly spaced gusset plates secured between the tubular members and side plates.

6. In a loading machine of the character described, spaced front and rear load supports, steerable wheels supporting one support and power driven wheels the other, a loading mechanism carried between the supports, the supports each including heavy main cross members, a backbone unit for connecting the supports at one side of the machine only, said unit comprising a heavy lower tubular member extending across and secured to said cross members, and an upper tubular member secured in spaced relation above the lower member.

7. In a loading machine of the character described, spaced front and rear load supports, steerable wheels supporting one support and power driven wheels the other, a loading mechanism carried between the supports, the supports each including heavy main cross members, a backbone unit for connecting the supports at one side of the machine only, said unit comprising a heavy lower tubular member extending across and secured-to said cross members, a shorter upper tubular member, and means rigidly connect ing the two tubular members to each other and forming a box-type construction in conjunction therewith.

8. In a loading machine of the character described, spaced front and rear load supports, steerable wheels supporting one support and power driven wheels the other, a loading mechanism carried between the supports, the supports each including heavy main cross members, a backbone unit for connecting the supports at one side of the machine only, said unit comprising a heavy lower tubular member extending across and secured to said cross members, an upper tubular member secured in spaced relation above the lower member, and the rear support having an extension beyond the end of said lower tubular member for carrying an engine for driving wheels.

9. In a loading machine of the character described, spaced front and rear load supports, steerable wheels supporting one support and power driven wheels the other, a loading mechanism carried between the supports, the supports each including heavy main cross members, a backbone unit for connecting the supports at one side of the machine only, said unit comprising a heavy lower tubular member extending across and secured to said cross members, an upper tubular member secured in spaced relation above the lower member, and angularly extending braces connecting the cross members of each support.

10. In a loading and transporting machine of the character described, a frame including front and rear spaced supports and a backbone unit joining the supports at one side, steerable front wheels beneath the front support, engine driven rear wheels beneath the rear support, a loading mechanism supported between said support for up and down movements and also for transverse movements from a normal position out to the side opposite said backbone unit, and a spring suspension for the front wheels including springs arranged to bias the frame downward on the side opposite the backbone unit to compensate for the weight distribution when the loading mechanism is in its normal position.

11. In a loading and transporting machine of the character described, a frame including front and rear spaced supports and a backbone unit joining the supports at one side, steerable front wheels beneath the front support, engine driven rear wheels beneath the rear support, a loading mechanism supported between said support for up and down movements and also for transverse movements from a normal position out to the side opposite said backbone unit, a spring sus pension for the front wheels including springs arranged to bias the frame downward on the side opposite the backbone unit to compensate for the weight distribution when the loading mechanism is in its normal position, and jack means projectable from the frame into ground contact to sunport the frame when the loading mechanism is moved out to the side away from the backbone unit.

12. In a loading machine of the character described, a main frame having spaced front and rear wheel borne supports, a backbone structure joining the supports at one side of the frame, a loader support frame structure mounted between the supports and including a tiltable frame, a loader on said tiltable frame, a hydraulic ram, and toggles connecting the ram to the tiltable frame for tilting the loader in an upright and transverse plane with respect to the main frame.

13. In a loading machine of the character described, a main frame having spaced front and rear wheel borne supports, a backbone structure joining the supports at one side of the frame, a loader support frame structure mounted between the supports and including spaced end plates and a torque tube rigidly connecting the same, a loader carried by the torque tube, means supporting the end plates for swinging movements with respect to the main frame about a horizontal and longitudinal axis, a hydraulic tilting ram, and toggle links connected to the ram and end plates for tilting the loader in an upright transverse plane.

14. In a loading machine of the character de scribed, a main frame having spaced front and rear wheel borne supports, a backbone structure joining the supports at one side of the frame, a loader support frame structure mounted between the supports, a loader carried by said frame structure and including an upwardly and downwardly movabl load carrier, the said carrier having sockets for crane arms to sling a load of material on the loader, and means on the crane arms and load carrier for securing the arms against swinging movements.

15. In a material handling machine of the character described, a frame, a load elevator, a carriage structure and means supporting the same for traverse movements on the frame, end plates and means pivotally suspending the plates from the carriage structure, a torque tube connecting the end plates, means mounting the load elevator on the torque tube, a hydraulic ram extending substantially parallel with the tube, a pair of toggle links connecting each end of the ram to said end plates for swinging them about their pivots and tilting the load elevator, and means connecting one of each pair of toggle links to the carriage structure.

16. In a material handling machine of the character described, a frame, a load elevator, a carriage structure and means supporting the same for travers movements on the frame, end plates and means pivotally suspending the plates from the carriage structure, a torque tube connecting the end plates, means mounting the load elevator on the torque tube, a hydraulic ram having a cylinder and extensible plunger and positioned substantially parallel with the torque tube, and toggle links connecting the opposite ends of the cylinder and plunger to said end plates and operative to swing the plates on their pivots and tilt the loader.

17. In a loading machine of the character described, a frame having spaced supports, a carriage and means supporting the same for traverse movements on and between the supports, carrier plates and means supporting the plates for traverse movements with and along the carriage, a

member connecting the carrier plates, end plates and means pivotally suspending the same on the carrier plates, a torque tube rigidly connecting the end plates, loading means sup-ported by the torque tube, and means for swin ing the end plates on their pivots for tilting said loading means.

18. In a loading machine of the character described, a frame having spaced supports, a carriage and means supporting the same for traverse movements on and between the supports, carrier plates and means supporting the plates for traverse movements with and along the carriage, a member connecting the carrier plates, end plates and means pivotally suspending the same on the carrier plates, a torque tube rigidly connecting the end plates, loading means supported by the torque tube, a tilting ram having a cylinder and an extensible plunger and located along the member connecting said carrier plates, and cooperating toggle link pairs connecting opposite ends of the cylinder and plunger to the carrier and end plates for swinging the latter on their pivots and tilting the said loading means.

19. In a loading machine of the character described, a frame having spaced supports, a carriage and means supporting the same for traverse movements in a horizontal plane on and between said supports, hydraulic rams connected between the frame and carriage for traversing the carriage, carrier plates and means mounting the same on the carriage both for movement therewith and for traversing with respect thereto, chain and sprocket connecting the frame and carrier plates and operated by the carriage for traversing the carrier plates, loader mounting mechanism swingably suspended from the carrier plates, and means for swinging said mechanism.

20. For a loader of the character described and having a traveling frame and load handling means operative to move a load out at one side of the frame, retractable jack means for supporting the frame at that side, comprising a support bar and a pivoted yoke slidably supporting the bar on the frame, guide means at one end of the bar, an arcuate track on the frame slidably engaged by said guide means, an actuating link pivoted between the frame and bar and a hydraulic ram connected to swing said link and thereby slide and swing the bar outward and downward from the frame in a path guided by the yoke and said track, and a ground engaging plate on the outer end of the bar.

LE GRAND H. LULL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,626,555 Remde Apr. 26, 1927 1,868,562 Chubb et al. July 26, 1932 1,953,056 Olen Mar. 27, 1934 2,088,260 Cochran July 27, 1937 2,259,558 Evans Oct. 21, 1941 2,324,817 Bratley July 20, 1943 2,413,355 Johnson Dec. 31, 1946 2,428,223 Johnson Sept. 30, 1947 2,437,806 Dempster Mar. 16, 1948 2,517,085 Cirillo Aug. 1, 1950 

